Effects of 12-month, double-blind N-acetyl cysteine on symptoms, cognition and brain morphology in early phase schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Currently approved medications for schizophrenia are relatively ineffective for negative symptoms and cognitive impairment. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a neuroprotective agent that improved general symptoms, cognitive impairment and negative symptoms in some but not all studies, but failed to improve positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Progressive brain mass loss (PBML) has been consistently observed in early phase schizophrenia. NAC mitigates the deleterious effects oxidative stress, inflammation and glutamatergic excitotoxicity and these three pathological processes are hypothesized to contribute to PBML.

Source: Schizophrenia Research - March 26, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Alan Breier, Emily Liffick, Tom A. Hummer, Jenifer L. Vohs, Ziyi Yang, Nicole F. Mehdiyoun, Andrew C. Visco, Emmalee Metzler, Ying Zhang, Michael M. Francis Source Type: research